BJP leaders stage protest, demand resignation of George, Kulkarni

 BJP leaders on Wednesday staged a protest in Bengaluru demanding the resignation of Bengaluru Development Minister K J George and Mines and Geology Minister Vinay Kulkarni, charging that the duo were involved in the death of DySP M K Ganapathi and the murder of Dharwad Zilla Panchayat member Yogishgouda Goudar respectively.

The demand for the resignation of the two ministers by the BJP had led to a stormy end to the winter session of the legislature in Belagavi recently and the party had vouched that it would take the issue to the streets.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar, former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka and BJP legislators from Bengaluru participated in the protest held near Anand Rao Circle.

Shettar accused the state government of systematically trying to protect the two ministers by trying to destroy evidence in the two cases. He accused George of putting pressure on the family members of Ganapathi from making any submission before the CBI officials. The investigative agency had recently registered a FIR against George.

Shettar also charged that the state government had deputed home minister's adviser Kempaiah to "protect" Kulkarni by hushing up the murder case of Goudar, who was hacked to death last year.

The BJP leaders said they will continue with their agitation till the two ministers demit office.